Investigations

A kilo of raw rhino horn fetches €24k on the black market, while a kilo of ‘processed’ rhino horn products such as bangles, bracelets or libation cups can reach €60-65k – that’s more than a kilo of cocaine, or gold – yet the comparative risk for criminals is low.

Social media often gives a global shop window to in-country wildlife product trading hubs - and features within our investigations.

Our investigations generate evidence in accordance with best law enforcement practice, combined with intelligence analysis which is compiled into Maps of Facts.

We investigate wildlife crimes and establish which laws have been violated, on a national level. This includes not only wildlife crime laws but also associated crimes such as money laundering, fraud and corruption.

Our investigations are well planned and diligently documented. We make use of case management and intelligence analysis software employed by law enforcement agencies around the world. This allows us to provide our evidence and criminal analyses to law enforcement agencies in a format they are familiar with.

Our investigations team is made up of former law enforcement officers from Australia, USA, EU and Viet Nam with specialist expertise in major case investigations, international wildlife investigation, surveillance, undercover and intelligence analysis.

A number of our law enforcement experts have trained law enforcement agencies in wildlife crime investigation techniques on behalf of the UNODC, INTERPOL and other NGO’s. We use trained undercover operatives using the latest covert surveillance equipment.

We believe it takes a network to defeat a network, and so we collaborate and share information with other NGO’s and governments whenever we can.